I had a minor problem logging into my blog.
It kept telling me wrong password. I had to contact someone to help me out and
I am glad I can post now. Sorry for keeping you guys waiting…
***
Episode 4 Title: Finding the killer.
Episode 4 Title: Finding the killer.
To read the previous
episode, click HERE
***
“Did I say anything
wrong?” Mercy asked as the dumbfounded faces only stared back at her for a period.
“Oh no, you did
not.” Genevieve managed to reply considering the amount of shock that absorbed
her. “But are you sure of what you just told us?”
“Yes. I don’t know
how true about him being a cultist but I am sure he almost raped that girl. Justine
covered up for him. Mr. Jordan Nze is not innocent of attempted rape. The
younger brother said he believed his sister and he was bold enough to announce
it in school to his friends who discussed about it during lunch break at the
cafeteria.”
“Where is she now?”
“The girl or
Justine?”
“The girl.”
“Oma Obina is her
name. She no longer comes to our church anymore. She stopped after she
apologized.”
“Do you know how I
can reach her?”
“No except I ask the
brother but I don’t know if it’s possible. I don’t know him personally and most
times, the junior students have no right to go to our senior classes except a
teacher sends us there. I might look for him after closing but he might find it
awkward if I start to ask for his sister’s contact. What if he asks me why do I
need it?”
“Don’t worry, what
class is he?”
“SS3, I think SS3 B.”
“And you?”
“SS1A.” She replied
with a smile.
“What’s his name?”
“Oke Obina.”
“Thanks.” Genevieve
returned the smile and patted her hand. “You did well and we are grateful.”
“I will be grateful
if you catch the person that killed my friend.”
Tiwa spoke up. “We
will do everything we can to catch her killer. Do you know the parents of…?”
Mr. Mezie burst into
the room without knocking. “I think that’s enough!” He reached for his
daughter’s hand, raised her up and whisked her towards the door. “No more
questions detectives, good day!”
The partners stared
at each other with their mouths wide opened. After they chatted and concluded
on the next step to take before going home, Genevieve went over to see Leroy to
ask if he had the choirmaster’s phone number. He had only the assistant
choirmaster’s number. He gave it to her and she made a call to him immediately.
After she introduced herself, she ordered him to send her the number of Mr.
Jordan.
When she got the
digits, she called him to send her his home address, and he did.
Tiwa and Genevieve arrived at the residence at 4:30pm. They came out from their vehicle and met him waiting in front of his doorstep. Jordan, a man in his late twenties was average in height and had a strong body built. He had dark lips and nice eyes. He crossed his legs together as he rested his back on the door when they approached him.
Tiwa and Genevieve arrived at the residence at 4:30pm. They came out from their vehicle and met him waiting in front of his doorstep. Jordan, a man in his late twenties was average in height and had a strong body built. He had dark lips and nice eyes. He crossed his legs together as he rested his back on the door when they approached him.
“I don’t really know
why you want to see me because of Sade. I know her parents but I was never
close to her.” He said. “My sis told me she was missing only for my assistant
to call me and reveal the unfortunate news, very sad story.”
“You didn’t go to
the church on the day she was murdered, right?” Tiwa said.
“Yes, I was sick. I
stayed at home.”
“Was anyone with you?”
“No but my sis and
mom called me in the evening to ask after my health.”
“So you don’t have
an alibi.”
“No.”
Genevieve didn’t
know if he was telling the truth but his sight disgusted her. She believed he
really tried to rape the girl. Tiwa knew he smoked weed considering the kind of
odor ripping out from his body.
“Are you trying to
tell us you never spoke to Sade before she was killed?” Tiwa asked him.
“Only the few times
she greeted me in church and the period she came to inform me she would be
joining the choir. I told her to sing for me and I was impressed. The forms I
had finished and I told her to get one from the assistant pastor and get back
to me this week but she never did, she died.” He chuckled faintly.
“You think this is
funny?” He irritated Tiwa.
“I wonder.”
Genevieve said in annoyance.
He didn’t say
anything but kept on smiling.
“What about the girl
you tried to rape.”
The smile on his
lips wiped out and a scowl crested his face. “What rape?”
“Sade was also raped
before an animal killed her. You tried to rape a former member of your church but
you were not persecuted.”
“I didn’t try to
rape anyone!” This time he spread his legs apart and removed his back from the
door. “That girl lied against me and the case was cleared. She apologized to
me! I am not a rapist and I am innocent!”
“I don’t think so! I
am sure you must have done it to other girls, even succeeded to have your way
with them forcefully and got away with it!”
Tiwa looked at her
surprised. “This is not a case detective Genevieve. You can’t conclude on the
verdict based on what we heard about from our source. You have no evidence to
call him a rapist!”
Her eyes turned red
at her. “I don’t care! He is a rapist!”
Jordan pointed at
Genevieve. “Don’t provoke me!”
“And what will you
do?” She gestured closer to him.
Tiwa quickly pulled
her gently away from him. “That’s enough both of you!” she glanced at Genevieve
and said. “We didn’t come here to talk mainly about a rape case but discuss if
he had a hand in Sade’s murder!”
“I didn’t kill her!”
Jordan yelled.
“But you raped that girl!”
Genevieve uttered.
“How dare you!” He
moved at her direction in anger but Tiwa speedily slide in front of her partner,
raised her hand up and turned it into a fist.
“If you move an inch
closer to her, I will disfigure your face!”
He moved backwards.
He was boiled in rage and breathing loudly. “I have said enough, both of you
should leave!”
She put down her
hand and sighed. “Can we check the floor in your house?”
“Floor for what?
Anyways, you can’t, get a warrant first!”
Genevieve shook her
head and walked towards the car. Tiwa looked at her and back at Jordan.
“You are advised not
to leave town until the murder investigation is over.”
“I have nothing to
hide, I didn’t kill Sade!”
Tiwa left him to her
car. She unlocked the doors, she entered and Genevieve did the same. Tiwa drove
all the way to Quincy’s office to drop her off. She and her partner did not say
a word to each other. When she got there, she parked her car without turning
off the ignition.
“Thanks for the
ride.” Genevieve said and she quickly unlocked the door and came out. Tiwa
wasn’t able to respond, there was no need for that, Genevieve was already far
away from her. Tiwa drove all the way home, alone.
***
“That was harsh and
uncalled for.” Quincy said to Genevieve as she cradled Freddie in her arms on
the passenger’s seat. They planned to have dinner at an eatery close to their
house. She had narrated about the argument she had with Tiwa.
“I feel terrible.”
Genevieve closed her eyes for seconds and opened them.
“You should be. I
hate to say this but she was right. You made a judgment based on hearsay. Even
if he really tried to rape her, get your facts right, find evidence and then
you can be able to persecute him.”
She heaved a sigh.
“I didn’t know what got into me. I thought about myself.”
He stared at her and
back at the road. “Please don’t, it’s all in the past.”
“What if I wasn’t
able to stop my father from raping me on that day,” She said sadly, forcing her
eyes not to spill out tears. She sniffed her nose. “Would I have met you or
even be Tiwa’s partner?”
“Genny, if you want
me to park the car for us to talk, I will.”
“There is no need
for that.”
“Then stop talking
about your father and what he did. You are free from him.”
“Maybe I shouldn’t
have shot him and allowed him rot in prison but how would I have been able to
do that if I did not pull the trigger?” She started to cry. “I killed him.”
“Christ!” Quincy
quickly found a spot to park his vehicle and he took Freddie away from her. He
put his right arm across her shoulder. “Don’t do this. You are a strong woman
and I love you so much. You are not a killer, you defended yourself.”
“I am sorry.”
Genevieve wiped her face and stopped to cry.
Quincy kissed the
left side of her head. “You don’t have to apologize; you did the right thing on
that day. You stopped him from hurting you.”
She nodded and
smiled at him. “I know.” She opened her arms. “Come here Freddie.” She took him
and patted his hair.
“Can I drive now?”
“Yes my love.” Genevieve replied.
He drove away. When
he arrived at the eatery, Genevieve said to him.
“I think if the choirmaster tried to rape that girl, he must have tried it on other church members. He might even have raped them but they were ashamed to talk.”
“I think if the choirmaster tried to rape that girl, he must have tried it on other church members. He might even have raped them but they were ashamed to talk.”
“Anything is
possible. What do you intend to do about the attempted rape case?”
“I will sleep over
it tonight.”
“Good but I hope you
know what to do when you see detective Tiwa tomorrow.”
“I know.”
***
Tiwa got home before
Adebiyi. She put a call across to the parents of Justine, requesting their
permission to question their daughter. She spoke with the father who expressed
sympathy for the death of their church member’s daughter. He assured her his
wife and he would bring their daughter to the bureau the following day, Friday.
She showered, made
dinner and waited for Adebiyi. When she could no longer hold the hunger, she
called him and he told her he was close to the house. She dished her food and
began to eat. Tiwa ate half of her food when she heard the sound of his car.
She walked to the
door, opened it, offered him a peck on his lips, and returned to the dinning. “It
seems you went out after you left the office.”
He pulled off his
blazers and threw it on a sofa. “Yes, I did. I bought the equipment’s the new
employee wants. I went back to the office to drop them. When she comes tomorrow,
she would arrange them herself. Have you been able to find out more about Abraham?”
"No."
"Send the name of his school and class to my phone. I will transfer the details to our new employee to find out about him before she resumes tomorrow."
"No."
"Send the name of his school and class to my phone. I will transfer the details to our new employee to find out about him before she resumes tomorrow."
“Okay, join me.”
“What did you cook?”
He rose up and moved to the dining table.
“Food.”
He smiled broadly.
“You couldn’t even wait for me Mrs. Glutton.”
“And you came home
late Mr. Ibu.”
He laughed and sat.
“I don’t have a big stomach! I would prefer you call me Idris Elba.”
“You wish.”
“People tell me I
look like him. They even stop me on the way to ask for my autograph thinking I
am the Hollywood actor.”
Tiwa abandoned her
food, gave him a sarcastic stare and laughed hard. “You must be dreaming! Which
autograph?”
“But it’s the
truth!”
“Please, just stop.
I want to finish my food in peace.”
“You can say that
again and how is the investigation going?”
She narrated
everything including the argument between her and Genevieve.
He acted surprised
and thought for a while, he asked. “Why would she act that way?”
“I really don’t
know. I don’t want to think she was a rape victim.”
“She could have been
one that was why she acted that way. I could secretly look into her past and
find out if there was a rape case connected to her.”
“Don’t, please. Let
her be.”
“If that is what you
want senorita no problem.”
Tiwa smiled and
leaned forward to kiss him. “That is what I want, thanks.”
***
The next morning, Adebiyi
and Tiwa came out from their vehicle at the bureau. They saw Genevieve standing
at the entrance. Adebiyi purposely walked passed Tiwa, exchanged pleasantries with
Genevieve and went inside.
“Good morning Tiwa.”
“Morning detective
Genevieve. Attem…”
Genevieve didn’t
allow her conclude her sentence. “Before you say anything I want to tell you I
am deeply sorry for reacting that way yesterday. I overreacted and I was wrong.
I apologize.”
A bright smile
flashed on her lips. “I accept your apology and I understand. Attempted rape is
a crime and if you want justice for the girl, I can never oppose to that. I
think it is nice of you to think of her even if you have never met her. You
have a beautiful heart.”
“Your kind words
mean so much to me. Thank you. Can I get a hug?”
They went inside
together and met Leroy coming their way. They greeted him.
“Any new update
about Sade’s killer?” Leroy asked them.
“Right now, we have
only suspects.” Genevieve answered.
“And the choirmaster
is among?”
“Yes.”
“If you want me to
help, let me know.”
“Thanks.”
“How about your case about the missing boy?”
Tiwa asked him.
“We are still
searching for the boy.”
“I hope you find
him.”
“I hope so too.”
***
After a long meeting
with his homicide detectives in the boardroom, Quincy came out and saw an
expensive wine and a card beside it on his secretary desk. His new female office
assistant who had different layers of make up on her face, stood up and she presented
it to him.
“I received this,
this morning from a delivery man while you were at the meeting.” She said
smiling.
He took it from her.
“Did he say who it came from?”
“No sir.”
“Thanks.” He took it from her, went into his
office and dropped the wine on the table. He opened the card and grinned at the
words written on it.
‘Whenever I look at your face, I fall in love with you all over
again. Your smile brightens my day’
He put it down and
kept the wine inside his fridge. He felt he should be the one telling his wife
these words and not the other way around. He was a lucky man to be the husband
of Genevieve. He intended to buy her new gifts.
***
In the afternoon at
12:05, Kevin informed Tiwa and Genevieve that Dr. Omoni wanted to see them. They
met her pressing her phone. She turned it off and focused her eyes on them.
“She was never
pregnant.” Omoni said.
“So why would she
need a drug as strong as postinor2?” Tiwa asked.
“It’s to prevent
pregnancy of course.”
“That tells us she
was having unprotected sex. People say she was nice and calm and her mom even
thought she died a virgin. Was she living a lie or was someone taking advantage
of her? I have investigated several cases but this particular one makes me
confuse.”
“Not only you,”
Genevieve said. “She died at the age of fifteen and I wonder how old she was when
she lost her virginity.”
Dr. Omoni said, “I
lost mine when I married my ex-husband…” Genevieve and Tiwa speedily glimpsed
at each other. “I had a beautiful honeymoon and I can never…”
“Dr. Omoni,”
Genevieve said. “We will be leaving now.”
“But I haven’t
finished my beautiful story yet.”
“Maybe next time,”
Tiwa took Genevieve’s left hand and they walked to the door. “See you later!”
The moment they stepped
out of the lab, Genevieve checked her wristwatch and spoke to her. “I have a
place to go now, I would take long.”
“What if Justine and
her parents arrive before you return.”
“Go ahead and
question her, we will talk about it when I get back.”
“Do you need the key
to my car?”
She smiled. “Don’t
bother, I will take a taxi.”
Genevieve boarded a
car and arrived at the school immediately the end of the students lunch break.
She called the number of the teacher she had. The woman met her, she requested
to see a student and she was taken to ss3B class. Oke Obina came out and
Genevieve asked after his sister. He told her she was currently in the
university. He also gave her the phone number. She called the number of his
sister and she picked up.
“Hello, who is this?”
“Hello, who is this?”
“I am detective
Genevieve Cole Arinze, your brother gave me your number.”
“Why?”
“I really want to
talk to you about something very important and it concerns you. Please, we need
to talk. I can meet you wherever you are even if it’s an open place.”
Oma gave her the
address of her school and they arranged to meet in one of the school canteens.
They met and Genevieve ordered food for her but she politely declined.
“Thank you for
meeting me.”
“You are welcome but
what exactly do you want?”
Genevieve told her she
knew about the rape incident.
“Why are you
bringing up my past?” Oma asked in an unhappy tone.
“I want you to tell
me the truth because I want to help you get justice.”
“After a year?”
“It doesn’t matter.
What really happened on that day?”
She sighed and kept
quiet.
Genevieve said
calmly, “Please, talk to me. I really want to help.”
“Why? You don’t
really know me.”
“I know but it
doesn’t matter. Did Mr. Jordan really try to rape you?”
Oma wore a scornful
expression. “Yes.” Her voice was angry. “I trusted him that was why I went to
visit him in his place. I saw him as a friend. Although he was asking me out
and I thought he was actually a nice person but I was wrong.” She heaved a sigh
and shook her head. “When I went there, he offered me an alcoholic drink but I
refused. I didn’t know how to drink it. Then he told me he wanted to show me
some pictures he pasted on his wall in his room. I never thought he had another
plan in mind. When we got there, he told me I should lay on his bed but I told
him no. He got angry, pushed me on the floor, slapped me and unbuckled his
belt. I beg, cried as he tried to force his way into me, we didn’t even know
his sister had entered into the house. I guess she heard my voice, ran to meet
us and she told him to stop.”
“Did he stop
immediately?”
“Yes. He looked at
me and told me God saved me.”
“What happened
next?”
“I got up. I was crying,
and feeling humiliated. Justine told me to leave, never to come back otherwise
she won’t be there to save me again.”
“She really said
that.”
Oma sneered. “Oh
yes. As young as that girl is she is cold hearted.”
“Does that mean he
has done it to someone and he got away with it?”
“You mean if he
actually raped someone?”
“Yes.”
“I really don’t know
but on my way out, I heard Justine tell him ‘you need to stop doing this’.
“Did he respond?”
“I didn’t wait to
hear his response.” Oma replied. “I just wanted to get out of his house.”
“I am sorry.”
She smiled faintly.
“Thank you.”
Genevieve relaxed
her hands on the table. “I heard you no longer attend the church anymore.”
“The pastors and most
of the members of Christ Forever Ministry felt I was lying. I had to stay away.
My parents didn’t have a choice but allow me change my church, I am old enough
to do what I want. I wonder what I would gain for framing him, I really liked
him.”
“Do you know if he
asked any of your female friends or other church members out?”
“I really do not
know. I can ask my friends that still attend the church.” She paused and
swallowed. “There is a boy in my brother’s school, he attends the same church
too. I don’t know if he has left the choir but he is very good at snooping
around. He is a gossip. You could ask him about Jordan.”
“What’s his name?”
“Zach. I don’t know
his surname.”
“Genevieve shrugged.
“Zach?”
“You know him?”
“No but someone
mentioned he is close to Justine.”
“I don’t know about
that but there is a possibility they are in the same class. I didn’t attend
that school.”
“Did you hear about the death of Sade Akanju?”
“My bro told me, the
news is everywhere in his school. I didn’t know her but it’s painful.”
Genevieve rose up
and Oma followed suit. “I will see what I can do to talk to Zach but in your
free time contact your friends and find out what I ask you to do.”
“I will.”
She smiled at her.
“I will keep in touch.”
As she turned her
back, she called her. “Detective Genevieve.”
She rotated to look
at Oma. “Yes?”
“Thank you.”
“Don’t thank me just
yet. I will call you soon.”
***
Genevieve ate lunch,
bought some snacks for Tiwa and presented them to her when she arrived at the
bureau.
“I have never seen
such a spoilt brat in my life!” Tiwa told Genevieve in her office as she took a
big bite from her chicken burger.
“Really?”
“That girl called
Justine didn’t show any sign of grief when I mentioned Sade. She said she went
home after school hours on the day Sade went missing. Her mom was her alibi. You
won’t believe she was chewing gum loudly and her parents didn’t say anything.”
“Did you ask about
her brother?”
“I asked her if Sade
and her brother were friends, guess what she said.”
“What?”
“I said guess.” Tiwa
took another large bite that made Genevieve increase the size of her eyeballs.
“I thought you said
you ate lunch before I came.”
“Of course I did but
I don’t know where this appetite is coming from.”
She gave her a side
eye. “Are you sure you are not…?”
“Pregnant?”
“Yes.”
She laughed, dropped
her burger on the pack and dusted her hands. “I am not pregnant.”
Genevieve rolled her
eyes. “If you say so. Can you tell me what Justine said? I can’t guess.”
“She said Sade is an
ant and that her brother was too posh to be friends with her. And that Sade
deserved what she got.”
“What! Her parents
couldn’t caution her?”
“No.”
“And they call
themselves Christians.”
“Christians my
freaking ass. When I mentioned the closeness between Sade and Abraham, she
hissed. I even lied that they were in a secret relationship.”
“What did she say?”
“You need to have seen
her red face. She told her parents she wanted to leave and I agreed. I let her
go because I don’t think she knows anything about Sade’s murder.”
“You know we haven’t
questioned the woman selling corn.”
“I know.”
A tap on the door
got their attention and Leroy opened the door wide. A fair complexion and a
handsome man dressed in a corporate outfit stood beside him. His eyes were grey
and he had curly hair. Tiwa and Genevieve were curious to know why he was
holding a big bible.
“He is here to see
both of you.” Leroy said, and left.
“And who are you
sir?” Tiwa asked him.
“I am Pastor Roger
Olarenwaju.”
“A pastor?”
Genevieve asked surprised.
He smiled at her.
“Yes I am. The parents of Sade told me you were investigating the death of
their daughter.”
“Yes.”
“Please, sit down.”
Tiwa said.
After he sat, he put
his bible on the table. “I am the assistant pastor of Christ Forever Ministry. I
don’t know if what I want to say will help your investigation. Sade came to me
in my office last Sunday after service. She was looking very upset. She said
she needed to speak with me and ask for my advice. I was very busy at that
moment so I told her if she needed an advice urgently, she should see the
overseer. He is very close to her family.”
“The pastor never
mentioned anything about an advice when we saw him in the Akanju’s place.”
“I don’t think she
saw him because he sent for me after she left my office. With the little I knew
about Sade, despite she was the quiet type and she was always smiling. If only
I created the chance to talk to her that day, maybe she would still be alive.”
“Was it the first
time she approached you in your office for an advice?”
“Yes.”
“Do you think she
sounded nervous or apprehensive?” Genevieve asked.
“Not really but I
saw anger in her face. I wonder now if she was in trouble.”
“If she was close to
the main pastor in your church, why didn’t she go and see him.”
“Maybe she was
scared he might tell her parents because of their closeness. I would have
suggested the pastor’s wife but she travelled.”
“Oh okay, thanks.”
“Are you not the one
that gave Sade the form?”
“Yes, I was the
one.”
“And in that
process, she never mentioned anything?”
“No.” Pastor Roger
stood and picked up his bible. “I pray you find out who killed Sade.”
“We will.”
He extended his
hand, shook their hands and left.
“Do you believe he
is saying the truth?” Tiwa questioned Genevieve.
“I don’t really
know.”
“The new employee is
on her way now, I think it’s time we collect Sade’s phone.” Tiwa called Mrs.
Akanju. She greeted her and asked for the handset.
“Okay, let me check
her table.”
Tiwa could hear
footsteps and suddenly a gasp. “Any problem ma?”
“I can’t find her
phone!”
“What!”
“Let me ask daddy
Sade. Maybe he is with it.”
“Okay. Stay on the
line.”
Tiwa could hear her
asking him but he said he didn’t take the phone and that it should be on Sade’s
table. She had to ask, “When last did you see the phone?”
“I can’t really
recall but it was here this morning.” There was panic in her voice. “I don’t
know what’s wrong with me, I should have kept it.”
“It’s not your
fault. Can you ask your maid if she took it?”
“I discharged her
this morning but I am sure it was there after she left. I have been in Sade’s
room all day. My visitors came here to see me.”
“In the room?”
“Yes.”
“What part of the
room did you stay?”
“On her bed.”
“I want all the
names of the people that came into that room to see you. I need the male
names.”
“But why?”
“Just get me the
names ma, please.”
“Our pastor came to
pray for us in the afternoon. Should I include his name too?”
“Yes but it doesn’t
matter. Just send me everyone that visited you including the female names. Is
that better?”
“Yes. I will send
the names through a text message.”
“Alright.”
“Okay detective.”
“I will be waiting.”
Tiwa ended the call and explained to Genevieve. “I want her to include the
female names because the killer could have sent someone to get Sade’s phone.”
“That’s true.”
Genevieve said. “There is a possibility the killer visited them today, saw the
phone in Sade’s room and grabbed it without anyone noticing.”
“If that is it, the killer’s
name will definitely be on that list.”
***
To be continued…
Hmmmm...... Very interesting read. I look forward to the subsequent episode.
ReplyDeleteWell done.
Thanks!
DeleteOh my! The suspense is gathering momentum, lol!
ReplyDeleteYou sure know how to keep us on the edge.
Beautiful piece as usual, can't wait for more.
Thank you and a big hug dearie!
You're a darling.
DeleteBear hug!
Wooooh....so tensed right now who is,the killer.
ReplyDelete